Pregame thread: It's round one of B3@rz week ...

[Poppa San]

So the Packers get to defend against another backup QB? Sounds like Benny Johnson has ruled CW out for this Sunday. We seem to have the worst luck vs backups. They seem to have their career coming out party, at least to the eye test from the bleacher seats.

 

[gopkrs]

So the Packers get to defend against another backup QB? Sounds like Benny Johnson has ruled CW out for this Sunday. We seem to have the worst luck vs backups. They seem to have their career coming out party, at least to the eye test from the bleacher seats.

We better blitz

 

[milani]

So the Packers get to defend against another backup QB? Sounds like Benny Johnson has ruled CW out for this Sunday. We seem to have the worst luck vs backups. They seem to have their career coming out party, at least to the eye test from the bleacher seats.

If this were last season late in the year the Bears would do everything to get CW on the field. But since it is only WK 5 and they are not facing one of the top teams they can be precautionary.

 

[OldSchool101]

If this were last season late in the year the Bears would do everything to get CW on the field. But since it is only WK 5 and they are not facing one of the top teams they can be precautionary.

There’s zero % chance Caleb Williams was going to play within 3-4 Weeks imo. He was 1 slice short of being carted off.

 

[tynimiller]

There’s zero % chance Caleb Williams was going to play within 3-4 Weeks imo. He was 1 slice short of being carted off.

You guys want to tell him or should I?

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[milani]

There’s zero % chance Caleb Williams was going to play within 3-4 Weeks imo. He was 1 slice short of being carted off.

I would think so. But the Bears doctors are not being definitive about anything. This is a type of nagging injury similar to Rodgers calf ailment back in 2014. You could appear very good for a week or two and then it gives out again. Rodgers injury occurred very late in the season and he limped through the last few games. By the following year he was healthy.

 

[gopkrs]

Savion is back. Should be worth 10 to 14 points and 6 1st downs on end sweeps.

 

[milani]

Savion is back. Should be worth 10 to 14 points and 6 1st downs on end sweeps.

Like to see him get involved in the offense. Catching the ball and protecting it is what we need.

 

[tynimiller]

Savion is back. Should be worth 10 to 14 points and 6 1st downs on end sweeps.

LOL I'm gonna die if we score on a sweep with him....just to spite you I hope he does it four times lol

 

[BrokenArrow]

Statistically speaking, about 3 of them should....at 2-2 you have roughly a 40% chance historically of making the playoffs.

Which three, of course, that's the big question

What's interesting is that in this position - a loss in your 5th game hurts you way more than a win helps you.

Win and move to 3-2 and your odds get a modest boost, about 50% to make playoffs

But lose and drop to 2-3, and your odds are nearly halved, with only a ~25% chance to make it

So actually a win helps you a lot as it represents a 25% swing compared to losing.

 

[OldSchool101]

Savion is back. Should be worth 10 to 14 points and 6 1st downs on end sweeps.

I like Savion. He’s been used sparingly but what we have seen is largely effective. He’s a great option to feed some of Reeds’ snaps to imo.

 

[OldSchool101]

Got some good news this week. Brandon Cisse is not only ok after being injured, he’s cleared to play and he’s been practicing already.

I know so far he’s been a mixed bag of results with a baptism by fire at CB, but really for his first 4 games he’s displayed some nice splash plays.
He’s also had some tough snaps intertwined throughout. I think he’ll only get better with experience though. I’m really excited to see him grow as the 2026 year progresses.
I love Cisse’s aggressive demeanor snd he’s been improving each week off a tough initial start.

QB rating against him
WK1 135%
WK2 128%
WK3 109%
WK4 93%

 

[gopkrs]

I see Bagent will be starting. At least he has a sense of the rivalry. More than a bunch on this chat. I don't know anything about him. But I'm kinda happy we won't be playing against Keenum. At least not in the first half.

 

[AGreen2AJones]

Micah may be back in WK 7 or 8. And on a play count.

Thanks..and didn't think he would be out 300+ days!

 

[Magooch]

Well this will be a tricky one.
For starters Chicago (including Bagent/Keenum) has by far the best offense we have faced in terms of offensive EPA:
Bears 8th / Vikings 28th / Jets 13th / Falcons 18th / Bucs 32nd (We are 26th)

And third-strongest in defensive EPA:
Bears 6th / Vikings 1st / Jets 18th / Falcons 8th / Bucs 5th (we are 24th)

It's also just a bad matchup for us though. Chicago has the second-best pass defense in the league. Given that we have no running game that does not bode great for us (We have the 32nd-ranked rush EPA in the league and it's not close)

 

[OldSchool101]

GB is about to have a few reinforcements. Looking more and more like Savion Williams is back in the lineup. Plus Kevin Zeitler is likely going to debut at RG. I think his veteran presence is going to really help that OL, especially Sean and Anthony. It might take a minute to be noticed, but that means we now have both Guards featuring established Veterans with over 360 combined Starts.

Chris Brooks has not practiced yet this week and is dealing with a minor ankle injury. Im really curious to see if Pierre Strong Jr. is featured some as he was brought up from PS. With adequate blocking Strong is a big play threat and he can be used in the short passing game. He's a balanced RB. Strong isn’t heavily Seasoned, but he does have 125 total touches all purpose at 5.5 per with The Patriots and Browns, so he’s not a total green pea either.

 

[OldSchool101]

I don’t discount the Bears. Yet I don’t think Chicago is nearly as good as those stats show after 4 games.

A Week 1 matchup

A Rain out game where both team combined for 12 points at Soldier Field

A game against a bottom dweller Jets

The only gand the Bears looks impressive as week 1 which was a total anomoly and then Philly. Yet Philly is clearly not the same team we think of in years past. They are 2-2 but 2-1 against teams with a combined 3-9 record.

Also Chicago may be without both Calen Williams and Kyle Monangai. Neither has practiced all week and both are dealing with hamstring and turf toe injuries.

 

[milani]

Thanks..and didn't think he would be out 300+ days!

There is only one Adrian Peterson who can come back in 8 months and not miss a lick.

 

[Heyjoe4]

So the Packers get to defend against another backup QB? Sounds like Benny Johnson has ruled CW out for this Sunday. We seem to have the worst luck vs backups. They seem to have their career coming out party, at least to the eye test from the bleacher seats.

Thanks for mentioning this Poppa. Before week 1, if I knew the QBs GB would face, I'd have been ecstatic.

Alas, there is no such ecstasy to be found. Two wins against the lowly Jets and Bucs by 3 points each - well that hardly presages a great season ahead. Although after last night, it looks like there may be a QB controversy in Tampa. Daniels looked good again - a rookie UDFA.

I'd rather see the Packers play the Bears with CW. He's their best and win or lose, the guy is just fun to watch. Hopefully not too much fun this weekend…….

 

[Heyjoe4]

There is only one Adrian Peterson who can come back in 8 months and not miss a lick.

Yeah milani Peterson came back strong from an ACL tear in, what, 8 months? Is that right? I know he came back early and didn't miss a beat.

Not a fan of him as a parent. The guy was a remarkable RB and athlete.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I don’t discount the Bears. Yet I don’t think Chicago is nearly as good as those stats show after 4 games.

A Week 1 matchup

A Rain out game where both team combined for 12 points at Soldier Field

A game against a bottom dweller Jets

The only gand the Bears looks impressive as week 1 which was a total anomoly and then Philly. Yet Philly is clearly not the same team we think of in years past. They are 2-2 but 2-1 against teams with a combined 3-9 record.

Also Chicago may be without both Calen Williams and Kyle Monangai. Neither has practiced all week and both are dealing with hamstring and turf toe injuries.

The Bears backup QBs have proven very capable. Losing Monanghai is big but they still have Swift. The Bears are the best team in the North and I don't expect that will change.

 

[Heyjoe4]

GB is about to have a few reinforcements. Looking more and more like Savion Williams is back in the lineup. Plus Kevin Zeitler is likely going to debut at RG. I think his veteran presence is going to really help that OL, especially Sean and Anthony. It might take a minute to be noticed, but that means we now have both Guards featuring established Veterans with over 360 combined Starts.

Chris Brooks has not practiced yet this week and is dealing with a minor ankle injury. Im really curious to see if Pierre Strong Jr. is featured some as he was brought up from PS. With adequate blocking Strong is a big play threat and he can be used in the short passing game. He's a balanced RB. Strong isn’t heavily Seasoned, but he does have 125 total touches all purpose at 5.5 per with The Patriots and Browns, so he’s not a total green pea either.

It does look like the Packers will start two of the veterans at RG and LG this week, and even the presence of just one helped last weekend.

I don't know much about Strong. Considering where this season is going, we'll probably see him sooner than later.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Well this will be a tricky one.
For starters Chicago (including Bagent/Keenum) has by far the best offense we have faced in terms of offensive EPA:
Bears 8th / Vikings 28th / Jets 13th / Falcons 18th / Bucs 32nd (We are 26th)

And third-strongest in defensive EPA:
Bears 6th / Vikings 1st / Jets 18th / Falcons 8th / Bucs 5th (we are 24th)

It's also just a bad matchup for us though. Chicago has the second-best pass defense in the league. Given that we have no running game that does not bode great for us (We have the 32nd-ranked rush EPA in the league and it's not close)

Hey Magooch. It's hard to find any silver lining in this matchup against the Bearz. I didn't know their pass defense was that good. Their offense, even without CW is good. Gonna be a long Sunday for Packer fans. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Thanks..and didn't think he would be out 300+ days!

It is surprising that Parsons isn't, at a minimum, practicing for his return. Although with the way the Packers have played through four games, there's no hurry to get him back.

 

[milani]

Yeah milani Peterson came back strong from an ACL tear in, what, 8 months? Is that right? I know he came back early and didn't miss a beat.

Not a fan of him as a parent. The guy was a remarkable RB and athlete.

The injury took place on Xmas Eve and he was Come Back Player of the Year. But he not only had the ACL. He also had the same injury to the MCL. Unheard Of.